Former UFC Champ Lesnar Puts Hunting Charges Behind Him

Former UFC heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar, who plead guilty to the charges of failing to properly tag a mule deer, has paid his $1500 fine, made an apology and wants to move on. The initial charges dealt with failing to properly tag a deer, unlawful possession of wildlife and abandonment/wasting of the edible flesh of big game during a 2010 hunting trip in Alberta.

Lesnar has released a statement explaining “In Alberta, Americans can’t hunt without a licensed outfitter. The outfitter is there to make sure you follow the rules. I had two deer tags for the trip, which meant I could legally shoot two deer. On the first day of the trip, I shot a mule deer. On the second day, I shot a white tail. Video from the hunt has been on the Internet for over a year. After I shot the mule deer, I failed to immediately tag it.” He also explained that this was the extent of his involvement and that he was relying on the outfitter to handle the meat and ensure compliance with hunting regulations. While Lesnar plead guilty to the tagging charges and paid the associated fine, Ramona Robins, the chief crown prosecutor for Medicine Hat, Alberta, has withdrawn the charges of spoilage and illegal possession of wildlife. Lesnar’s outfitter still faces charges.

The former UFC champ apparently harbors no hard feelings about the situation and has clearly not soured on the idea of hunting in The Great White North, saying “It’s the kind of thing that happens to hunters all the time. I want to thank the Canadian authorities for their cooperation in resolving this misunderstanding. I love Canada and I can’t wait to go back to Alberta for a hunt.” He may have to wait a little while though, as he has also been suspended from hunting in Alberta for six months.